Cut-off machine



Filed March 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 W Mfi J .n z in a M ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1939. M J, FLEMING 2,149,430

CUT-OFF MACHINE Filed March 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. warzzn J'. FZem m M. J. FLEMING CUT-OFF MACHINE March 7, 1939.

Filed March 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet Nay ATTORNE March 7, 1939. M. J. FLEMING v CUT-OFF MACHINE Filed March 14, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Marina J: F/em 2'72 7 ATTORNEY Rack? rkikw USE No w Patented Mar. 7, 1939 U EDJ A ES PATENT. OFFICE My invention relates to a new and useful im-' provement in a cut-ofi machine adapted for use in cutting pieces of material of a definite length from a long strip. The machine is generally used in cutting pieces of material from long strips although from a description of the machine it will appear obvious that it may also be used for cutting other kinds of material. In machines of this type which are now used, the strip of ma... terial is fed at a predetermined rate and this feeding is continuous. Theshearing or cutting mechanism consequently, during the cutting operation, must travel with the strip of material and after the severing operation return to its original position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine of this type which will be hydraulically operated and automatically controlled. It is another object of the invention to provide a machine of this type in which the operations will be considerably speeded up and a resulting saving in labor and time eifected. A

Another object of the invention is the provision in a cut-off machine of this type of a movable table hydraulically operated and of a shearing mechanism carried by said table and movable therewith and also hydraulically operated.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a machine of .this type of means for easily and quickly adjusting the mechanism for determining various lengths of cut.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automaticmeans for discharging or kicking ofi the strip after the cutting operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this class which will be compact, durable, possessed of maximum speed and efllciency, economically manufactured, and easily operated.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood bya reference to the accompanying drawings which form'a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a central, transverse, sectional view of the invention. q

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic in the invention.

Fig, 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view view of the piping'used of a switch used in the invention with parts broken away. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the switch illustrated in Fig. 5 with parts broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line l-| of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a. fragmentary, sectional view taken on'line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9 -9 of 10 Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring used in the invention.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view switch operation. 7 Fig. 12,is a diagrammatic view of the slide illustrating a switch operation. I

Fig. 13 is a tranverse sectional view. taken on line l3--'l 3 of Fig. 1. I

In the drawings I have illustrated the invention'as enclosed by a box-like structure I! which serves as a bed or supporting body. Within this supporting structure is mounted a partition or supporting plate l8 upon which is mounted an electric motor l9 used .for driving the hydraulic pumps 20 and 29'. Access to the interior of the member I! may be eflected through openings in the end wall closed by the plates 2| and 22 and also through an opening in the side wall closed by the plate 23 and through anopening in the side wall closed by the ventilating plate 24 which illustrating a has louvres formed therein. Mounted on the top of the supporting member I! is a plate 25 Having transversely extending slots 26 formed therein through which the'attaching bolts 21 may be projected so that the position of the plate 25 transversely of the supporting member I! may be adjusted. Attached to this plate 25 is a slide bed 28. Formed in the slide bed 28 is a recess- 29 in which is positioned a slide plate 30. Secured to the slide bed 28 are the lock plates 3| which overlie the end edges of the slide plate 30,

this slide plate 30 riding in the recess formed in the slide bed 28. The cover 3| which may be termed a carriage is secured to and moves in unison with the slide plate 30. Projecting upwardly from one edge of the cover or carriage 3| is a standard 32 having an overhanging head 33 through which is swivelly projected the screw 34 threaded into the block 35 formed on the cyl- 5 inder 36. This cylinder 36 is provided with the laterally directed flanges 31 which ride "in the channels 38 formed on the standard 32. By

- threading of the threaded stem or screw 34, the

position of the cylinder 36vertically of the standed on the abutment plate or anvil 39 is a die block 45 and a guide block 46 having registering openings 41 and 48, respectively, formed therein.

Slideably mounted in the cylinder 36 is a piston 49, the piston rod 56 of which carries the head 5I to which is attached the punch or die 52 which is adapted to perform the shearing operation, the members 45 and 46 having cooperating recesses formed therein to provide a channel through which the workpiece 53 may slide. As this workpiece is sheared, a small portion of it will be scrap material which willfall through the openings 41, 46, 4| and 42 into the chute 43 to be discharged through the side of the support I1. This strip 53 of material which is'to be cut into proper lengths is fed longitudinally through the machine at a predetermined rate of speed by a well-known feeding mechanism which is not illustrated and which forms no part of the present invention.

Attached to the slide 36 is a piston rod 54, the connection of this piston rod to the slide 36 being an adjustable one in any well-known manner. The piston rod 54 is connected to a piston 56 slideably mounted in the cylinder 55 which is mounted on the plate 25. The piston56 in the cylinder 55 operates to move the slide plate 36 forward and backward, that is, to the left of the drawing shown in Fig. 1 to follow the workpiece as it is fed and backwardly to the right to the starting position. v

The control and operation of the shearing piston 49 and the moving piston 56 is illustrated in the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 4. As shown in this figure, I provide a reservoir 51 having bailie or dividing partitions 58 mounted therein. The pipe 59 serves as a feed pipe to the pump 26 and'the pipe 66 serves as a feed pipe for the pump 26', these pipes terminating at their lower ends beneath the liquid level in the reservoir 51. A delivery pipe 6| serves to conduct the liquid from the pump 26 and interposed in this delivery pipe is a pressure relief valve 62 which returns by the pipe 63 to the reservoir 51. An

outlet delivery pipe 64 serves to deliver the liquid from the pump 26 and in this delivery pipe 64 'is interposed a pressure relief valve 65 returning by the pipe 66 to the reservoir 61. The delivery pipe 6I serves to deliver the liquid for operating the shearing ram and the delivery pipe 64 serves to control the operation of the slide moving ram. This delivery pipe 6| communicates with a four-way solenoid operated valve 61 of any desireable type of construction, several makes of four-way valves of this type being already known on the'market. This valve is of the stay-put type, that is, when moved to either open or closed position,'it remains in that position until again positively operated. From the valve 61 proceeds the cylinder delivery pipes 68 and 69 so that the liquid delivered to the valve 61 would be delivered into the cylinder 36 at one side of the piston 49 or.

, the other depending upon the position of movesolenoid operated control valve 12. I This valve is communicates through this valve 12 and the pipe 13 with the cylinder 55 at one side of the piston 56. This valve 12 also communicates through the pipe 14, the feed control valve and the pipe 16 with the cylinder 55 at the other side of the piston '56. The valve 15 is used to regulate the quantity or volume of the liquid delivered into the cylinder 55 at one side of the piston 56 so that the speed or rate of travel of the piston 56 may be varied.

The construction is such that when the valve 12 is turned to admit oil into the cylinder 55 at one side of the piston 56, the opposite side of the cylinder will be in communication with the outlet return pipe-1 I. When the valve 12 is operated to admit oil into the cylinder 55 back of the piston 56,.that is, to the right of the piston 56, as illus trated in Fig. 4, the slide plate 36 will be moved to the left of the drawing shown in Fig. 1 and when the valve 12 is operated to admit oil into the cylinder 55 in front of the piston 56, that is, to a the left of the piston, as shown in Fig. 4, the slide plate 36 will be moved in the opposite direction to the normal or starting position.

When the valve 61 is operated to admit'oil into the cylinder 36 above the piston 49, the piston 49 will be moved downwardly and the cylinder 36, below the piston 49, will be in communication with the return pipe 16. When the valve 61 is operated to deliver oil through the pipe 68 into the cylinder 36, below the piston 49, the cylinder 36 will be in communication through its upper end through the pipe 69 and the valve 61 with the return pipe 16 and the piston 49 will be forced "upwardly.

Mounted on suitable supports 11 and 18 is an angle iron or supporting table 19 which projects outwardly from one side of the member I 1. This angle iron carries the supporting arms 86 which are connected by the rod 8i so that the workpiece slides along the support 19. As this workpiece slides along the support 19, the end thereof will be brought into contact with the head 82 mounted on the tubular plunger 83. This plunger 83 is slideably mounted in the bushing 84 which is pressed into the bearing 85 forming a part of a carriage which has the downwardly projecting legs 86 and 81 provided with rollers 88 and 69, respectively, which engage in tracks 96. The tracks 96 are mounted fixedly on a plate 9| which is positioned on the base of the angle iron 19. This angle iron, including the plate 9|, may be moved upwardly or downwardly by adjusting the heights of the standards 11 and 18 so that the end of the stock 53, when the feeding has reached a certain distance, will engage the head 82 and force it inwardly against the compression ofthe spring 92 which engages at one end the end of the tube 83 and atv the opposite end the pin 93 which is projected through the hollow body 94. A contacthead 95 is pressed into the inner end of the member 63-and serves, when the member 83 is pressed inwardly against the compression of the spring 92 to engage a roller 96 mounted on the shaft 91 which is projected through the contact head 98 carried by the arm 99 rockably mounted on the shaft I6I. When the arm 99 is rocked, the head 98 will serve to engage the plunger I62 of a switch which is enclosed in the housing I63 held in the barrel I64 by means of the screw'cap I 65.

The standards 86 and 81 project downwardly from a superstructure a portion of which comslide plate 30 would have traveled a predeterprises the laterally projected bracket I06 on which ismounted a solenoid embodying the coil I 01 and the core I08. The core I08 is connected by,

the link I09 to one end of an arm IIO which is fixed to and projects outwardly from a rocker shaftIII carrying an upwardly projecting kickoff bar II2. When the rocker shaft III is rocked in one direction,the kick-off bar 2 serves to engage the workpiece and forcibly push it 01f of the angle iron 19 or. other support on which it may be positioned. This shaft I II is rocked upon the upward movement of the core I08 and this core I08 is moved upwardly upon the' energizing of the coil I01.

In operation, the switch I I3 which controls the operation of the electric motor I 8 would be closed so that the pumps 20 and 20' would be operating continuously. The pump 20 would, of course, develop a higher pressure than the pump 20' due to the fact that the pump 20 has more work to perform. The valve would be adjusted to the proper position and to this end I provide a handle 15' accessiblefrom the exterior of themember I1. The plate 8| would be moved to the proper distance on the member 10 and clamped in position by means of the clamping mechanism embodying the L-shaped slide shoe H4 in the overhanging'part of-which is threaded the stem II6. This. clamping shoe is slideable along the angle iron 19 and may be locked in variouspositions thereon by means of the screw II6 to clamp. the plate 9| in fixed relation on the angle iron 19. The location of the plate 9| on the angle iron will, of course, depend upon the length of cut of the material 53 which it would be necessary to make. If the material is fed through the dies, the end thereof would strike the head 82 and serve to close the switch in the housing I03. This switch may be termed the limit'switch No. 1 and is designated in the diagrammatic view by the numeral I I5. The cable I I6 serves to conduct the wiring to the switch I I5 and is adapted for being Wound upon the reel II1. Limit switch No. 2 indicated by the numeral H8 is closed when the slide plate 30 is in its fully retrieved or starting position. This switch is held in closed position by a boss I I9 projecting downwardly from the slide plate 30 and adapted to engage the switch controlling arm I20.' Upon the closing of the switch II5, the relay embodying the coil I2I and the contacts I22 would be closed so that the coil I23 moving. the valve 12 to forward open position would be energized and the valve 12 opened to admit liquid through the pipe 13 into the cylinder 55 thus moving the slide plate 30 to the left of Fig, 1. At the same time the coil I24 controlling the operation of the valve 61 would be. energized and the valve 61 would be moved to open position for admitting liquid through the pipe '60 into the cylinder 36 thus starting the piston 49 on its downward travel. These valves 12 and 61 would remain in this position and as the slideplate 30 moves to the left, the boss II9 would disengage from the switch arm I opening this switch I I8.

The'travel of the slide plate carrying with it.

engaging simultaneously with the workpiece at.

the .same speed. In this movement,-the limit switch No. 3 which may be termed switch I25, would be open and limit switch No. 4, indicated by the numeral I26, would be closed. When the mined distance, during the time of which travel the cutting operation would have been completed, the boss I21 carried by the piston rod 50 would engage the switch ar 12!! and open the limit switch No. 4 indicated by the numeral I26. This switch I26 would be open just as the piston 50 reachesth'e completion of its downward move-.'

ment and at the same time the boss I29'projecting downwardly from the slide plate 30 would engage the switch arm I30 and close limit switch No. 3

or the switch indicated by the numeral I 25. It

will be remembered that the circuit to the magnetic coils controlling the operation of the valves.

' pipe '68 although the cylinders 36 are starting the piston 49 on its upward movement. This upward movement would continue while the slide plate 30 is traveling in unison with the workpiece until the cutting tool had cleared the workpiece and just as the cutting tool clears the workpiece, the boss I21 will ride off of the'end of the arm I28 permitting this arm to spring outwardly and close limit switch No. 4 or the switch indicated as switch I26.. In this instance switches I25 and I26 would both be closed and the piston 49 would continue its upward movement. The relay em-' bodying the coil I34 and the contacts I35 would be operated so that the coil I36 would be energized, this coil I36 controlling the operation of the valve 12.. Thus the valve 12 would be operated to admit liquid through the pipe 16 into the cylinder 55 tending to move the plate into its original starting position. At the same time, the coil I01 would be energized to pull the core I08 upwardly so as to rock the shaft III and kick the cut-off piece of metal from the support. As the slide 30 moves to its initial position the limit switch No. 2 or switchl I 8 would be closed and the disengagement of the workpiece from the head 82 would allow switch II5 to move to open position.

standards 86 and Bland the slide plate 30 Is maintained. In order to prevent this framework embodying these standards, in the return movement, from moving to the right beyond normal position, I have provided a weight I39 connected by the wire "I40 to the framework and adapted to travel overthe sheath MI.

It is thus apparent that I have provided a hydraulic mechanism of this type which is automatic in its operations and in which the speed of travel of the slide plate 30 may be varied. Consequently, the mechanism may be timed to accord with different speeds of travel of the workpiece. While I have indicated the machine as being a cut-ofi machine, it is believed obvious that it is also adapted for other purposes such as for marking strips of metal at spaced points, punching holes therein, slotting, and similarly operating upon a traveling strip of metal at spaced points- It is also believed obvious that the op-' eration of the machine is determined by contact preferred form of construction, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating on a traveling workpiece, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a-work tool for operating on said workpiece; a holder for said tool movable toward and away from said workpiece; a supporting member movable in unison with said slide plate for supporting said tool holder; hydraulic means for moving said tool holdertoward and away from said workpiece; control means for controlling the operation of said last-named hydraulic means and effecting a movement of said tool holder toward said workpiece upon the sliding of said plate in one direction during the sliding movement of said plate in said direction a predetermined distance; means for controlling said first-named hydraulic means for efiecting a slideable movement (if said slide plate in said direction; means for controlling said second-named hydraulic means for efiecting a movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece upon movement of said slide plate in said direction, said predetermined distance; and control means for effecting the operationof said first-named hydraulic means for moving said slide'plate in the opposite direction, upon the movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece a predetermined distance. r

2. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating on a traveling workpiece, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a work engageable with said workpiece and adapted, upon engagement therewith, for efiecting the operation of each of said hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and moving said tool holder toward said workpiece for operating thereon; a control means operable, upon the sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for efiecting the operation of said second-named hydraulic means for moving said tool holder away from 'said workpiece; and means operable, upon the movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece a predetermined distance, for operating said first-framed hydraulic means for moving said slide plate in the opposite tool for operating on said workpiece; a holder for said tool movable toward and away from said workpiece; a supporting member movable in unison with said slide plate forsupporting said tool -holder; hydraulic means for moving said. tool holder toward and away from said workpiece;

' control means for controlling the operation of said last-named hydraulic means and effecting a movement of said tool holder toward said workpiece upon the sliding of said plate in one direction during the sliding movement of said plate in said direction a predetermined distance; means for controlling said first-named hydraulic means for effecting a slideable movement of said slide plate in said direction; means for controlling said second-named hydraulic means for effecting a movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece upon movement of said slide plate in said direction, said predetermined distance; control means for efiecting the operation of said first-named hydraulic means for moving said slide plate inthe opposite direction, upon the movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece a predetermined distance; and means for regulating the speed of operation of each of said hydraulic means.

for operating upon a traveling workpiece fed direction.

4. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating upon a traveling workpiece fed therethrough, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a work tool for operating on said workpiece; a tool holder for said work tool; hy-

draulic means for moving said tool holder toward and away from said workpiece; control means engageable with said workpiece and adapted, upon engagement therewith, for effecting the operation of each of said hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and moving,

said tool holder toward said workpiece for operating thereon; a control means operable, upon the sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for eflecting the operation of said secondnamed hydraulic means for moving said tool holder away from said workpiece; means operable, upon the movementof said tool holder away from said workpiece a predetermined distance, for operating said first-named hydraulic means for moving said slide plate in the opposite direction; and a supporting member movable in unison with said slide plate for supporting said second-named hydraulic means and said tool holder.

5. A machine of the class described, adapted for'operating upon a traveling workpiece fed 'therethrough, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a work tool for operating on said workpiece; a tool holder for said work tool;'hydraulic means for moving said tool holder toward and away from said workpiece; control means engageable with said workpiece and adapted, upon engagement therewith, for effecting the operation of each of said hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and moving said tool holder toward said workpiece for operating thereon; a control means operable, upon the sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for effecting the operationof said second-named hydraulic means for moving said tool holder away from said workpiece; means operable, upon the movement of said tool holder away from said workpiece a predetermined distance, for operattherethrough, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a work tool for operating on said workpiece; a tool holder for said work tool; hydraulic means for moving said tool holder toward 7 and away from said workpiede; control means ing said first named hydraulic means for moving said slide plate in the opposite direction; a supporting member movable in unison with said slide plate for supporting said second-named hydraulic means and said tool holder; and adjustable means on said supporting member for adjusting the position of said second-named hydraulic means thereon.

6. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating on a traveling workpiece fed therethrough, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a tool holder; a tool mounted on said tool holder and movable toward and away from the workpiece; hydraulic means for reciprocating said tool holder; means for mounting said secondnamed hydraulic means on said slide plate for movement in unison therewith; a control mechanism engageable with the traveling workpiece and adapted upon engagement therewith for operating said first-named hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and said second-named hydraulic means for moving the work tool toward the workpiece; means operable,

upon the sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for controllingthe operation of said second-named hydraulic means for effecting a movement of said work tool away from said workpiece; and control means operable upon themovement of said work tool away from said workpiece a predetermined distance for effecting an operation of said first-named hydraulic means for moving said slide plate in the opposite direction.

7. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating on a traveling workpiece fed there'- through, comprising: a slidably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a tool holder; a tool mounted on said tool holder and movable toward and away from the workpiece; hydraulic means for reciprocating said tool holder; means for mounting said secend-named hydraulic means on said slide plate for movement in unison therewith; a control mechanism engageable with the traveling workpiece and adapted upon engagement therewith for operating said first-named hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and said second-named hydraulic means for moving the work tool toward the workpiece; means operable, upon the sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for controlling the operation of said second-named hydraulic means for effecting a movement of said work tool away from said workpiece; control means operable upon the movement of said work tool away from said workpiece a predetermined distance for effecting an operation of said first-named hydraulic means for moving'said slide plate in the opposite direction; and manually operable means for regulating the speed of operation of each of said hydraulic means.

8. A machine of the class described, adapted for operating on a traveling workpiece fed therethrough, comprising: a slideably mounted slide plate; hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide plate; a tool holder; a tool mounted on said tool holder and movable toward and away from the workpiece; hydraulic means for re ciprocating said tool holder; means for mounting said second-named hydraulic means on said slide plate for movement in unison therewith; a control mechanism engageable with the traveling workpiece and adapted upon engagement therewith for operating said first-named hydraulic means for sliding said slide plate in one direction and said second-named hydraulic means for moving the work tool toward the workpiece; means operable, uponthe sliding of said slide plate a predetermined distance, for controlling the operation of said second-named hydraulic means for efiecting a movement of said work tool away from said workpiece; control means operable upon the movement of said work tool away from said workpiece a predetermined distance for effecting anloperation of said first-named hydraulic means for moving said slide plate in the opposite direction; manually operable means for regulating the speed of operation of each of said hydraulic means; a mechanism for removing said workpiece out of engagement with said firstnamed control means; and means for operating said removing mechanism simultaneously with the beginning of travel of said slide plate in said opposite direction.

MARTIN J. FLEIVIING. 

